Verizon may sign new deal with NFL to expand game streaming rights

Increasing the number of devices to which Verizon can stream football games.

Verizon and the National Football League are in talks to sign another streaming rights deal. According to a Bloomberg report, the wireless provider and the NFL are close to finalizing a new deal that would let Verizon stream games to Internet-connected TVs, tablets, and phones. Verizon's previous deal only allowed it to stream games to devices with screens that are 7-inches or smaller, so the new deal would open up NFL games to Verizon customers who primarily consume TV content on smart TVs, tablets, and other large devices.

Further Reading

According to people familiar with the matter, Verizon would also lose exclusive rights to air games on mobile devices as part of the deal. That means that while Verizon customers would have more device options for watching football, it may not be the only one to stream NFL games. Other wireless providers or streaming TV providers, such as Sling TV or DirecTV Now, may be able to strike their own deals with the NFL and provide streamed games to their subscribers through their own apps.

Verizon will have rights to deliver the NFL's Thursday night games, "among others." The NFL has divided up broadcasting rights among several companies, including Verizon and DirecTV. Amazon outbid Twitter for the rights to stream 10 Thursday Night Football games for the 2017 season, but only Prime members can watch them online.

Live sports are some of the most coveted content for all kinds of providers, be they traditional cable companies or Internet-based streaming companies. Even though the NFL has seen television ratings decline, the rights for airing its games continues to draw big offers from content providers. The financials of Verizon's new deal with the NFL have not been disclosed yet, but the deal is expected to be officially announced once "all related parties are informed."

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Valentina Palladino
Valentina is the Associate Reviewer for Ars Technica, covering all gadgets with a focus on mobile devices and wearables. She has a soft spot for Chromebooks. Twitter@valentinalucia

NFL ratings are sagging would not be surprised if next round of talks NFL see broadcast revenue flat line from espn, fox and cbs. So i would not suprised if NFL tries to cut out the middle man and broadcast games directly = more revenue..

Hmm. You mean the NFL learned that offering exclusivity on America's most-hated phone company wasn't the best idea?

If the NFL is worried about its ratings decline, actually making it easier to watch NFL games would be a good start. They got their success on free-to-watch TV. Putting things behind paywalls (not just Verizon on mobile, but NFL Network for TNF, ESPN for MNF, etc.) is a great way to reduce viewership numbers.

NFL ratings are sagging would not be surprised if next round of talks NFL see broadcast revenue flat line from espn, fox and cbs. So i would not suprised if NFL tries to cut out the middle man and broadcast games directly = more revenue..

That would be the worst thing ever, since NFL Network has neither the reach nor the ratings of those networks.

NFL ratings are sagging would not be surprised if next round of talks NFL see broadcast revenue flat line from espn, fox and cbs. So i would not suprised if NFL tries to cut out the middle man and broadcast games directly = more revenue..

That would be the worst thing ever, since NFL Network has neither the reach nor the ratings of those networks.

Yes but don't shoot the messenger, there have been rumors that they been looking at Netflix like streaming service that charge xx per month for games. They may be the first move in getting there..

NFL ratings are sagging would not be surprised if next round of talks NFL see broadcast revenue flat line from espn, fox and cbs. So i would not suprised if NFL tries to cut out the middle man and broadcast games directly = more revenue..

That would be the worst thing ever, since NFL Network has neither the reach nor the ratings of those networks.

Yes but don't shoot the messenger, there have been rumors that they been looking at Netflix like streaming service that charge xx per month for games. They may be the first move in getting there..

The league already has a relationship with BAMTech by proxy (it powers Twitter's streaming of games, as well as ESPN's Monday Night Football), and I would not be surprised to see the league engage further with them. Right now, the NFL is sitting high on the hog because Goodell, for all his failures as a commissioner, had the foresight to negotiate absurdly long television contracts--they run through 2022, so the NFL is protected from the ongoing implosion of the sports TV rights bubble--but they'll need to look for other ways to monetize their content when those deals are up (ESPN, in particular, would probably give anything to get out of the Monday Night Football deal).

Would love to have other options to watch my Panthers (I live in Eagles country now). I'm not switching to DirectTV just to get the Sunday Ticket (I'm on FiOS now) and I'm not eligible for the mobile version. I did have Verizon Mobile, but switched back to AT&T Wireless for a bunch of reasons, so that's not an option. I also tried Fubo.tv with a VPN, but that didn't work either.

I want to pay (a reasonable rate) to watch, but they make it very difficult. DirectTV and Verizon are not options for me.

NFL ratings are sagging would not be surprised if next round of talks NFL see broadcast revenue flat line from espn, fox and cbs. So i would not suprised if NFL tries to cut out the middle man and broadcast games directly = more revenue..

I agree. I actually think the NFL ratings problem has less to do with several political topics and more to do with the reality that the content this year has been poor. Blame it on injuries or bad luck but the games themselves are not compelling right now - and that is not enough to overcome owner/commissioner/player disputes over discipline, anthem controversies and the growing realization that CTE is real and a big problem. NFL is clearly going to take a fee cut in their next rights deal, so opening to streaming will happen I would think.

NFL ratings are lagging because there is too much goddamned football to consume. Too many games, not enough quality.

For me, too much commercials and not enough football. I am done with being a marketing target and there are now many entertainment options that have a much better then 3 to 1 commercials vs content ratio. Football has too many built in pauses so I am not sure it could even work with a paid subscription with no commercials format. But that is where I am at these days, I only have small amount of downtime, I refuse to fill it with commercials.

would this be subject to blackout rules for local teams? different sport but i wanted to cut the cord and get nba league pass to watch my local team. i could get any team other than my local team since i was in that market

Aha. So that explains it. I should have known that Verizon was behind it all. I tried watching MNF on the WatchESPN app, but it was not available on mobile devices, only on tablets, laptops, etc. Instead, I used the Dish Anywhere app and was able to watch it fine.

Data caps have never, ever been a solution to a technical problem. They've always been an artificial creation designed to extract money from bank accounts. Even if eMBMS is highly efficient at bandwidth use, Verizon can still apply artificial caps, just like they have in the past.

Would love to have other options to watch my Panthers (I live in Eagles country now). I'm not switching to DirectTV just to get the Sunday Ticket (I'm on FiOS now) and I'm not eligible for the mobile version. I did have Verizon Mobile, but switched back to AT&T Wireless for a bunch of reasons, so that's not an option. I also tried Fubo.tv with a VPN, but that didn't work either.

I want to pay (a reasonable rate) to watch, but they make it very difficult. DirectTV and Verizon are not options for me.

John

This is just one of the many fan unfriendly policies the NFL has. There is no reason in this day and age that we cannot stream our team anywhere we want.

Hearing that Verizon will lose its exclusivity is awesome, so finally they are realizing their mistake.

NFL ratings are sagging would not be surprised if next round of talks NFL see broadcast revenue flat line from espn, fox and cbs. So i would not suprised if NFL tries to cut out the middle man and broadcast games directly = more revenue..

That would be the worst thing ever, since NFL Network has neither the reach nor the ratings of those networks.

Yes but don't shoot the messenger, there have been rumors that they been looking at Netflix like streaming service that charge xx per month for games. They may be the first move in getting there..

I don't see much changing. While they absolutely may due what you suggest, it will most likely be competition for Sunday Ticket (out of market games) rather than against broadcasting. I for one would welcome that. I don't want DirecTV, but I absolutely would pay for Sunday Ticket if it were available elsewhere. There are a lot of people like me so right now it's just lost revenue for them.

Since the NFL players started dishonoring our national anthem I refuse to watch NFL, won't read their news, and won't buy their merchandise. I hope the entire league goes away.

Not sure if omitting /s, but does anyone else find it odd to have an anthem before the start of sporting events? Not to appear unpatriotic, but of all the times to sing/mouth along to the national anthem, why then? During international games the logic is there. Represent your country, woo! But what started the tradition for intranational games? Anyone mind/care to elaborate?

Since the NFL players started dishonoring our national anthem I refuse to watch NFL, won't read their news, and won't buy their merchandise. I hope the entire league goes away.

Not sure if omitting /s, but does anyone else find it odd to have an anthem before the start of sporting events? Not to appear unpatriotic, but of all the times to sing/mouth along to the national anthem, why then? During international games the logic is there. Represent your country, woo! But what started the tradition for intranational games? Anyone mind/care to elaborate?

Not an American but now that you mention it, it does seem a little odd. International games are an obvious place to sing an anthem, as are major events such as cup finals, but I wonder if this is just a general American tradition before large occasions of any kind, and has it been going on for a long time?

On top of everything else though, the protests with the anthem are the last thing the NFL needs. The issue is very emotive with strong views on every side and while I support the right of players who want to protest, I can understand why their actions are disliked. Sport and politics rarely mix well, probably because it’s supposed to be entertainment and escapism from the realities of the rest of life.

NFL ratings are lagging because there is too much goddamned football to consume. Too many games, not enough quality.

For me, too much commercials and not enough football. I am done with being a marketing target and there are now many entertainment options that have a much better then 3 to 1 commercials vs content ratio. Football has too many built in pauses so I am not sure it could even work with a paid subscription with no commercials format. But that is where I am at these days, I only have small amount of downtime, I refuse to fill it with commercials.

I mostly watch college football, but the same applies to NFL for the most part. I watch 99% of my football over streaming services (currently Hulu Live TV beta, I've used Sling TV previously) and I also hate commercials. However, there's really no good solution. A lot of times during commercial break, especially on ESPN, they won't have commercials but just a "we'll be back shortly" type screen with shitty music. On other channels and when ESPN actually plays the commercials, the commercials will be the same 4-5 over and over and/or commercials will be completely mangled (play the first couple seconds of one, switch to the next commercial, play more of the first, etc.). Which really breaks the engagement (meaning, regular commercials playing properly is preferred).

On the other hand, I've been to games and they do literally add commercials breaks so it's not just the nature of football that leads to so many commercials. So the games could be more streamlined to reduce commercials and length.

But, in the end, watching football is less and less appealing to watch and for a lot of varied reasons (commercials, drama, stupid rules, CTE, etc.)

Since the NFL players started dishonoring our national anthem I refuse to watch NFL, won't read their news, and won't buy their merchandise. I hope the entire league goes away.

Since the NFL and some team owners started dishonoring the players I refuse to watch any team that doesn't support their players' decisions.

I can understand them not supporting the players.

Imagine if you protested at you place of work and your actions were alienating a significant number of your employer’s customers. Realistically that’s not going to be tolerated and they would be well within their rights to sanction you in some way or just get rid of you entirely.

Equally, the right to peacefully protest is incredibly important, but these players aren’t being prevented from doing so by the government, they’re just taking the risk that their actions will negatively affect their careers.

Since the NFL players started dishonoring our national anthem I refuse to watch NFL, won't read their news, and won't buy their merchandise. I hope the entire league goes away.

Since the NFL and some team owners started dishonoring the players I refuse to watch any team that doesn't support their players' decisions.

I can understand them not supporting the players.

Imagine if you protested at you place of work and your actions were alienating a significant number of your employer’s customers. Realistically that’s not going to be tolerated and they would be well within their rights to sanction you in some way or just get rid of you entirely.

Equally, the right to peacefully protest is incredibly important, but these players aren’t being prevented from doing so by the government, they’re just taking the risk that their actions will negatively affect their careers.

I didn't say I don't understand their decision. I said I refuse to support it.

Since the NFL players started dishonoring our national anthem I refuse to watch NFL, won't read their news, and won't buy their merchandise. I hope the entire league goes away.

Since the NFL and some team owners started dishonoring the players I refuse to watch any team that doesn't support their players' decisions.

Sure if they were doing it on their own time. They aren't. During games they are on the clock working. People are suspended or fired for much less while on their employers dime.

The players aren't breaking any company policy. Now the NFL is free to institute a rule change saying players must stand for the national anthem, but until that time there is nothing the NFL can do against the players.

To be honest this is being made a much bigger deal than it should be. Except for when Trump made a big stink and pissed everyone off, only a handful of players have been kneeling during the anthem (though a lot have taken to kneeling BEFORE the anthem). Before this became an issue half the people in the stands probably didn't even pay attention to the national anthem, including many of these same people who are screaming about it now.

NFL ratings are sagging would not be surprised if next round of talks NFL see broadcast revenue flat line from espn, fox and cbs. So i would not suprised if NFL tries to cut out the middle man and broadcast games directly = more revenue..

That would be the worst thing ever, since NFL Network has neither the reach nor the ratings of those networks.

Yes but don't shoot the messenger, there have been rumors that they been looking at Netflix like streaming service that charge xx per month for games. They may be the first move in getting there..

MLB and NHL both do that already. BAMTech (recently sold to Disney) did all the hard work to make MLB games look like pixellated garbage on anything other than an Apple TV.

Would love to have other options to watch my Panthers (I live in Eagles country now). I'm not switching to DirectTV just to get the Sunday Ticket (I'm on FiOS now) and I'm not eligible for the mobile version. I did have Verizon Mobile, but switched back to AT&T Wireless for a bunch of reasons, so that's not an option. I also tried Fubo.tv with a VPN, but that didn't work either.

I want to pay (a reasonable rate) to watch, but they make it very difficult. DirectTV and Verizon are not options for me.

John

It'll only happen when pigs fly. Just like EA giving up their exclusive license to make NFL video games.

NFL ratings are sagging would not be surprised if next round of talks NFL see broadcast revenue flat line from espn, fox and cbs. So i would not suprised if NFL tries to cut out the middle man and broadcast games directly = more revenue..

That would be the worst thing ever, since NFL Network has neither the reach nor the ratings of those networks.

Yes but don't shoot the messenger, there have been rumors that they been looking at Netflix like streaming service that charge xx per month for games. They may be the first move in getting there..

MLB and NHL both do that already. BAMTech (recently sold to Disney) did all the hard work to make MLB games look like pixellated garbage on anything other than an Apple TV.

All of you are dead wrong, BAMTech has some really good streaming technology from when I streamed some free games of the day on MLB.tv (Not really sure about NHL, though).

NFL ratings are sagging would not be surprised if next round of talks NFL see broadcast revenue flat line from espn, fox and cbs. So i would not suprised if NFL tries to cut out the middle man and broadcast games directly = more revenue..

That would be the worst thing ever, since NFL Network has neither the reach nor the ratings of those networks.

Yes but don't shoot the messenger, there have been rumors that they been looking at Netflix like streaming service that charge xx per month for games. They may be the first move in getting there..

MLB and NHL both do that already. BAMTech (recently sold to Disney) did all the hard work to make MLB games look like pixellated garbage on anything other than an Apple TV.

All of you are dead wrong, BAMTech has some really good streaming technology from when I streamed some free games of the day on MLB.tv (Not really sure about NHL, though).

Just as good. I can generally stream two games at once without issue (one on the TV, one on phone). I wish the NFL would just use the same damn system.

Would love to have other options to watch my Panthers (I live in Eagles country now).

Not sure if this is an outside-US only deal, but https://www.dazn.com/ has all NFL games at least in Germany (and I guess elsewhere in Europe, too).

But it's a monthly subscription (9.99 EUR and I guess $9.99 in the U.S.), no game/day tickets available, AFAIK.

It should be outside US only. The streaming rights in the US are a bit fragmented but Verizon on phones (screen size less than 7 inch as the article mentions) and DirectTV for anything else cover the "Standard" games but are still required to have local blackouts on the streaming. ESPN and NFL network cover the Monday Night and Thursday night games with Amazon prime also getting to steam some Thursday night games but those also seem to be the games that are on local broadcast TV so not really getting much with that streaming.

Using Dazn from the US would probably require some combination of a VPN and/or a non-US based CC as I'm sure they are required to take steps to not provide service to US residents.

Hmm. You mean the NFL learned that offering exclusivity on America's most-hated phone company wasn't the best idea?

If the NFL is worried about its ratings decline, actually making it easier to watch NFL games would be a good start. They got their success on free-to-watch TV. Putting things behind paywalls (not just Verizon on mobile, but NFL Network for TNF, ESPN for MNF, etc.) is a great way to reduce viewership numbers.

I watch just about all my NFL games (and a lot of college football) for free with an Antenna, through an AppleTV. Here is what you do:

1. Buy a cheap Antenna (I have a $14 flat antenna). Can put in anywhere in the house where it gets reception - doesn't need to be near any TVs.

2. Hook up to an HD HomeRun - I bought one at Microcenter for $79

3. Buy the "channels" App for Apple TV. It's $24 but well worth it, and just had to pay once for installation on both my Apple TVs. It connects the HD HomeRun, allowing you to stream live TV, and you can puase and rewind as well. It's High def with a high refresh rate.

I also have SlingTV with the $10 Sport package, but I only get the sport package during football season. If a game is on both SlingTV and Antenna, it's much better to watch it on the Antenna.

Data caps have never, ever been a solution to a technical problem. They've always been an artificial creation designed to extract money from bank accounts. Even if eMBMS is highly efficient at bandwidth use, Verizon can still apply artificial caps, just like they have in the past.

well technically that's not possible; eMBMS takes certain spectrum and sets it aside and creates a broadcast channel out of it, or a few. Similar to how you have channels on cable for instance. You 'tune' into those channels. There is no way to count bits being 'consumed' by any one usersBut for sure, these guys are really creative in finding ways to charge for it, but as I said earlier, its more in line with additional subscription charges, per channel for example

The NFL already has a streaming platform outside the US. NFL Game Pass in any non-US countries offers all games and RedZone streaming live with no blackouts for about $180 US per season. It's not the best platform in the world but it's usable. I use a VPN provider to be able to access it n the US and it's how I watch most games on Sunday.